Premier Brad Wall shuffled the cabinet Tuesday, adding four new faces while shifting others around the table.
Among the ministers on the move was Rosthern-Shellbrook MLA Scott Moe, who moves back into his former role as Minister of Environment, Minister of SaskWater and minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Water Security Agency following the departure from cabinet of Battlefords MLA Herb Cox.
Cox had earlier announced he is leaving cabinet in order to undergo another stem cell transplant in his fight against cancer. Moe had previously been minister of Advanced Education.
The move means Moe will be in charge of an issue impacting his own riding directly — the Husky oil spill into the North Saskatchewan River and its aftermath. Rosthern-Shellbrook directly borders on the Battlefords constituency towards the northeast.
That change was the one most relevant to the Northwest in the cabinet shuffle, which was expected on the heels of the April election that saw the Saskatchewan Party win 51 seats.
Among the highlights Tuesday was the appointment of four of their newly-elected MLAs to cabinet positions.
The new ministers are Bronwyn Eyre, MLA for Saskatoon Stonebridge-Dakota who takes over from Scott Moe as minister of Advanced Education; Tina Beaudry-Mellor, MLA for Regina University who is the new minister of Social Services and minister responsible for the Status of Women; Dave Marit, MLA for Wood River who is the new minister of Highways and Infrastructure; and Joe Hargrave, MLA for Prince Albert Carlton who becomes minister of Crown Investments Corporation, Saskatchewan Government Insurance and Saskatchewan Transportation Company.
Also, Ken Cheveldayoff returns to cabinet as the Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport and Minister responsible for the Public Service Commission.
In addition to Moe, five other ministers are switching portfolios.
Jim Reiter moves over to Health; Donna Harpauer is the new minister of Government Relations and minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs; former health minister Dustin Duncan becomes minister of Energy and Resources and minister responsible for SaskTel and SaskEnergy; Meadow Lake MLA Jeremy Harrison becomes minister of the Economy, minister responsible for the Global Transportation Hub and minister responsible for Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority; and former minister of public safety and policing Christine Tell becomes minister of Central Services, minister responsible for Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation and minister responsible for the Provincial Capital Commission.
Two existing Ministers will take on added responsibilities. Minister of Education and Labour Don Morgan, will now also take on the role of deputy premier.
Also, Justice and SaskBuilds Minister Gordon Wyant will now have corrections and policing as part of his responsibilities; he is also the new minister responsible for SaskPower.
Seeing no change to their cabinet roles will be Finance Minister Kevin Doherty, Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart and Rural and Remote Health Minister Greg Ottenbreit.
The cabinet shuffle fills a number of vacancies in cabinet with the announced departures of Cox and of Kindersley MLA Bill Boyd, as well as the earlier resignation of former deputy premier Don McMorris from cabinet due to impaired driving allegations.
But those are not the only departures. Nancy Heppner, Mark Docherty and Jennifer Campeau are also leaving cabinet in the shuffle. Docherty, who had been minister for Parks, Culture and Sport, is now legislative secretary to the premier while Campeau, who had been minister of Central Services and minister responsible for STC, is now legislative secretary to the minister of Education.
Counting the premier, there are 17 cabinet ministers, one less than previously. According to a government news release, this is a five per cent reduction in the cabinet that will save taxpayers about $450,000 a year.
“We are looking for about five per cent in savings across government in order to balance the budget,” said Premier Brad Wall in a news release.
“While reducing the size of cabinet amounts to a small savings compared to the size of the overall budget, I thought it was important to start at the top as we look to reduce the costs to taxpayers all across government.”
As for other legislative appointments, Nadine Wilson will continue as provincial secretary and legislative secretary to the premier. Other legislative secretaries are Lisa Lambert, legislative secretary to the Minister of Education (Curriculum Development and Consultation); Lori Carr, legislative secretary to the Minister responsible for SaskPower (Renewable and Sustainable Energy); Fred Bradshaw, legislative secretary to the Minister of Environment (Forestry and Wildfire Management); Hugh Nerlien, legislative secretary to the Minister responsible for the Public Service Commission Public Sector Bargaining); Steven Bonk, legislative secretary to the Minister of the Economy (Export Development); and Warren Kaeding, legislative secretary to the Minister of Agriculture (Irrigation Expansion).
Paul Merriman takes over as the new government house leader and Greg Lawrence is appointed government whip.
“In the April election, we were fortunate that voters elected a number of very talented and capable new MLAs, creating the opportunity for renewal in our government,” said Wall in a statement.
“The new cabinet will have a strong blend of experience and new faces and will serve Saskatchewan well as we work to meet the opportunities and challenges facing our province.”
